death certificate

noun

: an official document that gives information about a person's death (such as when and how the death happened)

Examples of death certificate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Knowings died from cardiac arest, per PEOPLE, which obtained Knowings’ death certificate. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026

Knowings died from cardiac arrest, according to the death certificate obtained by People. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026

Heat isn't noted on the death certificate, and therefore it is not included in the tallies reported to the municipality, the state and eventually the federal recordkeepers. — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Raudel was shot in the chest, according to his death certificate. — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Legal Definition

death certificate

noun

: a document setting forth information (as age, occupation, and place of birth) relating to a dead person and including a doctor's certification of the cause of death

Note: Death certificates are issued by a particular public official, as a city or town clerk. A death certificate is required to document a person's death for certain purposes, as to file an estate tax return or to probate an estate.